UK Justice Secretary David Lammy is raising concerns with the US government regarding the case of Sarah Steele, who was strangled by a US fighter pilot. The pilot was tried by court-martial on a US airbase and received a six-month sentence, sparking debate over jurisdiction.
This case highlights potential jurisdictional conflicts and perceived injustices in how crimes committed by US military personnel on UK soil are handled, raising questions about accountability and victims' rights within the English legal system.
UK Justice Secretary David Lammy is escalating the case of Sarah Steele, who was strangled by a US fighter pilot, to the US government. Lammy, who also serves as deputy prime minister, described the situation as "extremely concerning" and stated that UK officials are working to establish the full facts.
The case involves Captain Jacob Wulfson, who was tried at a court martial on a US airbase despite the crime occurring off-duty within UK territory. Cambridgeshire police transferred jurisdiction to the US military, which prosecuted Wulfson. He was convicted of strangling Steele but acquitted of sexual assault, receiving a six-month sentence and dismissal from the air force.
Steele has spoken out about her "distressing and degrading" experience with the US military justice system, highlighting that many in the UK are unaware of "little pockets of American jurisdiction" on British soil. The incident has drawn attention to an agreement that typically gives UK police responsibility for crimes outside US bases when personnel are off duty, though the US military appears to often assert jurisdiction.
Politicians, including Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller and Conservative MP Nick Timothy, have called for justice to be served within the English legal system for crimes committed on UK soil.
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